Well…we’re back. We went, we saw, and we conquered. You know that your vacation has been long enough when you don’t dread the fact that you have to go back to work. It was a lot of fun while it lasted. We were rejuvenated, motivated, and just ready to get back to life. That’s what vacation is for anyhow. So, in other words, it fulfilled its purpose. Plus, we got a lot of material to share with you. This week we wanted to share with you each of our top takeaways from the trip while it is still fresh in our minds.

Trip statistics:

Miles driven: 5200
Trails hiked: 16+
Miles hiked: 127
Bug bites: 347+
Memories made: Still counting

Mike

I never cease to be amazed at the handiwork of God. I love beholding the glory of God on full display when I visit the Grand Canyon. I stand awestruck at the vast chasm before me in an effort to allow my eyes sufficient time to capture a portion of what lies before them. But this time was different. As I descended into the Canyon, I discovered something profound to me. It’s not just a huge canyon. It’s literally hundreds of canyons of varying shapes, sizes, and a host of other factors that come together to make up the beauty of the whole. Duh! But it was a new revelation to me. It was breathtaking to enjoy each of the unique canyons we discovered on our trek through the Grand Canyon.

Randi

I was excited to be able to do something that was on my bucket list. We went about a mile into the Narrows in Zion National Park. I love seeing all the different canyons in Utah and Arizona. You would think they would be more similar, but each has a beauty all its own. The Narrows is especially cool because most of the hike you are walking right in the Virgin River.

Justin

I really enjoyed the trip and just being able to relax without having to worry about anything. I would have to say my favorite part was Zebra Canyon. The hike to Zebra Canyon was a little dry (bah-dum-tsh). It was nice on the way back though, because about half of Zebra Canyon was wading through water that was knee to chest deep and about 38 degrees. It was really cold but the canyon was definitely worth seeing.

Camden

The hike down into Golden Cathedral was probably my favorite. Even in the driest climates a little water goes a long way. At the top, it is pretty much just a desert but down by the river it seemed like a jungle. It had everything but cell signal. The heights we climb, we climb for cell signal.

Gavin

Although challenging and difficult, the incredible hike through the Grand Canyon would have to be my favorite memory of our trip. The trip down into the Canyon was very enjoyable, but the way out was, well, mandatory. We couldn’t help stopping all along the way to witness the views, just to see and know how great our God is. Through trials of heat and physical exhaustion, this hike is stocked full of fun and crazy stories to tell.

As you can tell, we really enjoyed the trip. If you’ve been to any of these places, or have some favorite spots in Utah please let us know. Stay tuned for more of our adventures.